Greetings Riverside Chapter Members,
Riverside County is open, and your BIA Riverside County Chapter team is excited as we have begun to resume meetings and events again in person. Your Board of Directors met in person June 3rd for the first time in more than a year, and I can tell you I have never seen a group so happy to be together and not on Zoom! That same day we had great participation from our chapter at the BIASC Housing and Policy Summit in Rancho Mirage, and I want to thank all those who joined us. It was an engaging day covering many of the policy and regulatory challenges our industry faces.
On the advocacy front, we have been very focused on several issues that will have significant impact to our builders throughout Riverside County if approved:
First, is the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Greenprint initiative. SCAG has contracted with the Nature Conservancy utilizing SB 1 Transportation Funds to create an online conservation planning tool in a manner that could invoke new CEQA threats to entitled housing projects. While the BIA supports both new transportation infrastructure and appropriate open space conservation, this effort is being conducted behind closed doors without appropriate stakeholder input. We will continue to work to see that our industry is at the table in the decision-making process and ensure entitled housing projects are protected.
Second, is the piece of proposed state legislation SB 12. As noted in a recent op-ed authored by BIASC, Orange County Business Council and BizFed LA, “Senate Bill 12 has been touted as necessary to protect residents and homes from future California wildfires. In part, SB 12 would prohibit cities and counties from approving new housing developments unless they are determined to be adequately protected from wildfires under a myriad of new regulations set forth by various state agencies. While the goal of protecting residents and their homes from wildfires is certainly good, the approach laid out in SB 12 is fraught with problems.” You can read more about SB 12 by clicking HERE.
Later in this newsletter you will see a robust list of upcoming events. We have a very full summer and fall schedule ahead, and I hope we will see you at an event soon! As always, if you have questions or if we can be of service please contact me at: eo@riversidebia.org.
